KSO, KCA threaten Imphal-Moreh blockade
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 15 2019:
The Kuki Students' Organization (KSO) and the Kuki Chiefs' Association (KCA) of Khengjoi sub-division have declared that they will impose blockade on Imphal-Moreh highway from December 19 if the State Government fails to bring back the Model Residential School which was proposed to be constructed at Khengjoi sub-division.
Addressing a press meet held at KSO Headquarters located at Kuki Inn here today, KSO Khengjoi sub-division and KCA Khengjoi sub-division spokesperson Thangjalun Haokip informed that a Model Residential School was sanctioned by MOBC for Khengjoi block headquarters.
He asserted that the said project was approved during 13th Empowered Committee meetings held on March 9 and March 12, 2018 at a cost of Rs 2562 lakh, adding that Rs 945.38 lakh out of the total cost, had already been released to the State Government on March 28, 2018.As asked by the district administration, an area measuring 1,40,000 square feet had also been donated by the village chief in Khengjoi sub-division.
However, the State Government shifted the location of the sanctioned Model Residential School to Chingkhir village of Chandel headquarters and constructed it there on the ground that the earlier place/site is remote and lack basic amenities, Thangjalun said.
Maintaining that the objectives of the Model Residential School clearly mention about providing quality middle and high school level education to ST students in remote areas, the spokesperson went on to point out that Khengjoi block headquarters has only one Government High School which is also about 37 Kms away from the said block headquarters.
On the other hand, there are about 10 high schools and a college within 2 kms radius of Chingkhir village which is the new approved location for constructing the Residential Model School.
JNV and KGBV schools are just 7 kms away from Chingkhir Village, he continued.
He decried that the State Government is still trying to ignore the pitiable condition of Khengjoi sub-divisional headquarters and the backward hinterlands in the sub-division by concentrating all infrastructure only at the district headquarters.
Terming the State Government's act as utterly discriminatory and outright social injustice, Thangjalun said that the schemes for Khengjoi sub-division cannot be implemented at the district headquarters.
Reminding that a bandh was called on March 28 this year, protesting against shifting of the Residential Model School from Khengjoi sub-division to Chandel district headquarters, he claimed that a delegation of Khengjoi sub-division met Chief Minister N Biren where the latter had assured of bringing back the said school to Khengjoi sub-division after the Lok Sabha election.
The spokesperson then demanded the State Government to translate the assurance given by the Chief Minister into action within December 18, failing which the KSO and KCA of Khengjoi sub-division with the help of like-minded CSOs will impose blockade on Imphal-Moreh National Highway from the next day onwards.